High-impact research
Research in the media
In 2024, more than 50 Kaiser Permanente Southern California studies drew media attention, including in top-tier publications such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Among the stories the media wrote about Kaiser Permanente Southern California research were the potential for at-home colon cancer tests to save lives, the importance of exercise, and the increase in rates of postpartum depression. Additionally, our researchers and clinicians were called upon to share their expert opinions on multiple topics including food portions, sedentary behavior, and medical devices.
Here’s a small sample of some studies that piqued the interest of reporters and the public.
Studies in the news
New Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine variant shows enhanced protection against COVID-19 hospitalization
People who were vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine adapted to XBB.1.5 had a 63% reduction in the risk of hospital admission due to COVID-19 and a 58% lower risk of being admitted to an emergency department, compared to those who had not received a booster.
Reports on the study appeared in News Medical, Los Angeles Times, and World News Today, among others
U.S. postpartum depression diagnoses doubled in a decade
Rates of postpartum depression have doubled over the last decade, with the largest increases among Asian and Pacific Islander and Black patients. The study also found higher postpartum depression rates across all prepregnancy BMI categories.
Reports about the study appeared in HealthDay and ABC News, among others.
Depression, anxiety diagnoses have increased among young people
There was a 60% increase in clinically diagnosed depression and a 35% rise in anxiety from 2017 to 2021 among Southern California youth, with the highest rates during the pandemic years.
The study was covered by the Los Angeles Times, Medscape Today, and The Washington Times.
At-home colon cancer test can save lives
Completing at least one at-home fecal immunochemical test screening correlated with a 33% overall lower risk for death from colorectal adenocarcinoma, with a 42% reduction reported for cancers in the left colon and rectum, according to a study of Kaiser Permanente patients in Northern and Southern California. Screenings also were linked to lower risk in Asian, Black, and white patients.
The study was reported in HealthDay, MedPage Today, and Healio, among others.
City-level taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages tied to lower youth BMI
Children who live in cities with excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages tend to have lower body mass index (BMI) than those who live in cities that do not have such taxes. This study found significant drops in the rates of overweight or obesity across all age groups among more than 44,000 children residing in 1 of 4 California cities with these taxes compared with demographically matched control cities.
The study was reported on in HealthDay, NBC, and TCTMD among others.
No perinatal risks seen with influenza vaccination in successive pregnancies
Influenza vaccination in successive pregnancies is not associated with increased risk for prespecified adverse perinatal outcomes. The retrospective cohort study involving individuals with at least two successive singleton live-birth pregnancies to found that vaccination in successive pregnancies was not associated with increased risks for preeclampsia or eclampsia, placental abruption, fever, preterm birth, preterm premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, or small-for-gestational-age birth compared with individuals not vaccinated in both pregnancies.
The study was reported in HealthDay, Local12 (Cincinnati), and Pharmacy Times, among others.
Which surgery for vaginal vault prolapse? No clear winner
In a clinical trial at 9 sites with 360 women with vaginal vault prolapse after hysterectomy were randomly assigned to undergo native tissue repair (transvaginal repair using the sacrospinous or uterosacral ligament), sacrocolpopexy (mesh repair placed abdominally via open or minimally invasive surgery), or transvaginal mesh repair. All of the surgical approaches were associated with high rates of treatment satisfaction and improved quality of life and sexual function.
The study was reported on in Medscape and MDedge, among others.
Experts in the News
Restaurant portions are about to get smaller. Are Americans ready?
The New York Times reached out to Deborah Cohen, MD, MPH, for comment on a story about shrinking food portions due to her work with restaurants to create “balanced portion” meals. In the interview, Dr. Cohen explained that most people lack the ability to control how much they eat when they are served too much.
The story ran in The New York Times and was syndicated from there.
How a sedentary behavior expert finds time to move
The American Heart Association News featured Deborah Rohm Young, PhD, MBA, as part of “The Experts Say,” an American Heart Association News series in which specialists explain how they apply what they’ve learned to their own lives. In the interview, Dr. Young emphasized the importance of physical activity in maintaining health.
The study was reprinted in many news publications including Danville (VA) Register & Bee, The Daily Courier, and The Northwest Indiana Times.
How medical devices are evaluated by Kaiser Permanente’s EHR
Becker’s Hospital Review interviewed Liz Paxton, PhD, director of medical device surveillance and assessment at Kaiser Permanente about how Kaiser Permanente leverages EHR data to monitor the quality and safety of over 4.2 million medical devices.
STAT also covered the story in a Q&A with Dr. Paxton.